In March 1953, “Columbia” label released “Ellington Uptown”, the fifth Duke Ellington album. It was recorded in December 1951 in New York City, February – June – July 1952 in Fresno, California.

Personnel:

• Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn – piano
• Betty Roché, Al Hibbler – vocal
• Willie Smith, Johnny Hodges, Hilton Jefferson – alto saxophone
• Russell Procope – alto saxophone, clarinet
• Paul Gonsalves, Al Sears – tenor saxophone
• Harry Carney – baritone saxophone
• Cat Anderson, Shorty Baker, Willie Cook, Shelton Hemphill, Al Killian, Clark Terry, Francis Williams – trumpet
• Ray Nance – trumpet, violin
• Lawrence Brown, Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman – trombone
• Tyree Glenn – trombone, vibraphone
• Claude Jones, Juan Tizol – valve trombone
• Jimmy Hamilton – clarinet, tenor saxophone
• Fred Guy – guitar
• Wendell Marshall, Oscar Pettiford, Junior Raglin – bass
• Louis Bellson, Sonny Greer – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Duke Ellington, except where noted.

1. Skin Deep – Louis Bellson
2. The Mooche – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
3. Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn
4. A Tone Parallel to Harlem (Harlem Suite)
5. Perdido – Juan Tizol
6. Controversial Suite Part 1: Before My Time
7. Controversial Suite Part 2: Later